Text tabled : A7-0170/2011

  Jean-Luc Bennahmias (ALDE), in writing. – (FR) It is euphemistic to say that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are controversial in Europe. While several Member States, including France, are using their escape clause to refuse to cultivate certain GMOs, at the moment the Member States have very little room for manoeuvre, and, because of unanimity, or even majority, decisions are regularly blocked in the Council. The idea of this directive is therefore to reintroduce a degree of freedom for Member States: they will be able to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs within their territory. We have adopted Mrs Le Page’s report by a very large majority, a report which was the result of long negotiations, and which I think represents a balanced compromise. This is a difficult exercise, because we are in a single market, supposedly without barriers. The report therefore strives to find a balance between the EU’s system of authorisation and the freedom of the Member States to respond to their specific national or local problems. It must be emphasised, however, that the Member States will no longer be able to act as they see fit: a list of grounds has been drawn up which will serve as a basis for justifying the restriction or prohibition of the cultivation of GMOs. Among the possible grounds given are environmental and socio-economic impacts, as well as land use and town and country planning.